5 April 2008
Maputo — The Mozambican and Vietnamese governments on Friday signed agreements to establish a joint cooperation commission between the two countries, and to abolish entry visas for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports.
The signing ceremony came on the first day of a three day state visit to Mozambique by the General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Nong Duc Manh.
An agreement on education was also signed under which Mozambican teachers may be sent to Vietnam to teach Portuguese in Vietnamese universities.
After the ceremony, President Armando Guebuza and Nong Duc Manh told reporters they regarded the agreements as marking a new stage in the relations of cooperation and friendship between the two countries.
Discussions between the Mozambican and Vietnamese delegations "show that there is space to expand our cooperation", said Guebuza. "These agreements will allow greater contact between the two countries. Particular attention will be paid to the joint commission which is the instrument that will implement agreements and identify new areas for cooperation".
Nong's visit follows the visit made by Guebuza to Vietnam in January 2007, and Guebuza revealed that he has been invited to make a second visit to Vietnam.
The first agreement on economic, scientific and technical cooperation between Vietnam and Mozambique was signed in 1978. At the time, however, Mozambique was already facing the war of destabilisation launched by the Ian Smith regime in what was then still Rhodesia, and Vietnam had not yet recovered from the massive American aggression against Indo-China. Such circumstances were not propitious for the development of cooperation.
Now, however, both countries are at peace and their economies have been growing at an impressive rate, laying the foundations for a more solid relationship in the economic, and even in the business sphere.
"Our countries are separated geographically, but are united by solidarity and a commitment to advance the well-being of our peoples", declared Guebuza.
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